The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-10-20

laws Of the StSte Of Missouri. with a
sspital Of three million dollars. and
hov there are about ihirty-fve miles
graded and ready for the iron.
Mr.. Splitlog hiss furnished the
'.sinews 81 war; out Of his own ample
fortune. and is backed BY heavy capt.
talists to complete the road. and before
the Isl of next January he will have
the ears running from Joplin. in Jasper
County. to the town Of Splitlog. in Nc
Donald County, a distance Of about
thirty-five miles, and Matthias Split
log. the millionaire Indian. who is
probably the richest maR of his race.
viii hencelOrth be known all over the
country as the only Indian railroad
man Cat least the frst) in the United
States or in the whole world.
The occasion Of driving the first
spike on the main line Of this new road
was matter Of more than ordinary in-
terest to the people Of Neosho. Al
people assembled at the point where
the main line crosses the Frisco track.
After music by the Indian band from
the Territory. and selections from the
NeoshO band. Mr.. Charles w. Smith.
auditor Of the construction company.
held the spike in position. and in four,
bold strikes Mr.. Splitlog drove the
spike home into a carefully selected
white oak tie. Cheer after cheer was
given for the road. Matthias SplitlOg.
NeOshO and the enterprise, after which
many came to the track to look 10 the
spike. Mr.. Splillog welded the sledge
with familiarity and precision which
indicated that he had used his sledge
with good effect when he built his
steamboat on the Detroit river.
Mr.. SplitlOg was born in the year
1918. aud when q boy was apprenticed
% a carpenter and millwright. and,
although his wages were only seven
dollars per month. young Splitlog
thought he was getting rich. He inn
bibed love for machinery aud inven-
tons which has made his life a useful
aud eyentful one. In the year 1912
Young SplitlOg joined the Wyan-
dottes. who were the last Of the Indian
tribes then in Ohio. In 1913 Splitlog
came West with some Of the tribe. and
found. after his arrival at Westport
landing (now Kansas City,. that he
only had City cents III his pocket He
induced an old Indian TO 90 his security
for the price Of an axe. With this axe
he cut eOrdwOod for the steamboats, nc
twenty-five cents per cord. and. after
paying for the axe. which cost two dol
lars. he soon saved enough to buy
pony.
About the year 1876 he married. Eliza
Barnett. agrandniece Of Harry Jacques.
the old Indian who went his security
for the price Of the axe. Her father
wis head chief of the Wyandoties when
he died in 1855 Her mother was a
part Wyandoite and part Seneca In
dian. They have a family Of live chill
tlren-fOnr suns and one daughter.
Splitlog was never idle. aud in most 10
his undertakings he WAS successful
Al an early day he built mill near
Wyandotte, which was first run BY
horsepower and afterwards by steam.
Splitlog's mill was a succeSs. and was
long an old landmark near Wyandotte
He begaR Ia speculate in real estate.
and, although he can neither read nor
write. he has been one Of the most sue
ceSsful spectators in the neighbor-
hood Of Kansas City. and * to-day
worth over a million dollars. Many
interesting incidents could be- written
in connection with his useful life
NeOSho mo. Cor. Kansas City Journal.